- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 436,108
- Reaction score
- 44
Spring practice is underway at Auburn, and it's time to preview another position group ahead of A-Day, which will take place on Saturday, April 12 at Jordan-Hare Stadium.
The next position group that we will examine in our spring breakdown series is safeties, which loses two key names but will be reloaded with young, yet experienced talent. Colby Wooden and Jerrin Thompson anchored the unit last season. However, Thompson has graduated after spending one season on the Plains, and Wooden elected to transfer to SEC rival Arkansas for the 2025 season. According to Pro Football Focus data, Thompson carried the load by participating in 718 snaps last season, where he graded out at 78.5 in tackling and 78.0 in coverage.
Not only will Auburn be without two key experienced players at this position, but they will have a new coach leading them. TJ Rushing was promoted to safeties coach during the offseason following the departure of veteran defensive backs coach Charles Kelly, who left the Plains to become the head coach for the Jax State Gamecocks. Rushing began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Arizona State in 2012, and has since made stops at Northern Arizona, Stanford, Memphis, Florida State, and Texas A&M.
Rushing will have the luxury of coaching several talented players such as Kaleb Harris, Sylvester Smith, Anquon Fegans, Eric Winters, and Taye Seymore this season, who are more experienced than their class level would suggest.
Here is a look at what the Auburn quarterback room looks like as spring practice continues on the Plains.
The junior from Atlanta will look to get more play time this season as he enters his third season on the Plains. He participated in 34 snaps last season, where zero covered receivers caught a pass under his watch.
Harris may be a true sophomore, but do not let his class level fool you. He is the most experienced returning safety on Auburn's roster and will look to be the premier defensive back this season. Harris graded above 80.0 in both run defense and tackling last season, according to PFF data, and logged 608 snaps as a true freshman.
Smith kicked his career into high gear in 2024. After playing in four games as a true freshman in 2023, Smith participated in all 12 games last season with six starts. He logged 438 snaps, the third-highest count on the team behind Jerrin Thompson and Kaleb Harris, and receivers caught passes 68% of the time when covered by Smith.
Fegans was the No. 4 signee from Auburn's 2025 class and is looking to form a solid alliance with former Thompson teammate Kaleb Harris at the safety position this season.
Winters joins Fegans as a strong member of Auburn's 2025 signing class. Expect Winters to play a major role is pass coverage this season.
Lane-Ganus moves from cornerback to safety this season after playing in four games as a true freshman. He played in a season-high nine snaps in Auburn's win over Alabama A&M to open the season.
Seymore transfers to Auburn after a breakout sophomore campaign at Georgia Tech. Last season, he started seven games and totaled 401 snaps at safety. He graded higher than 76.0 in two games last season against VMI and Duke. Opposing receivers caught 11 of 15 passes when covered by Seymore.
Johnson enters his sophomore season looking to break into the safety rotation. He signed with Auburn as part of Hugh Freeze's first class in 2023 as a three-star safety and the No. 143 overall recruit from Texas.
Robinson saw action in seven games in his first season at Auburn after transferring in from Colorado. He played a season-high 23 snaps in Auburn's season-opening win over Alabama A&M, with his highest-graded outing coming against ULM, where he finished the game with a 71.6 and a 77.2 coverage grade.
Carlson joined the team last season as a walk-on, where he saw action in three games.
Fegans transferred to Auburn last season after spending the previous two seasons at Northwestern State. He also played two seasons at Arkansas State, where he signed to play.
Thompson, a former Hoover Buccaneer, is a key special teams player that saw action in every game last season.
Williams did not see any action as a sophomore at Auburn, but was a quality player at City College of San Francisco in 2023, where he logged 27 tackles in 10 games.
Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Taylor on Twitter @TaylorJones__
This article originally appeared on Auburn Wire: Auburn football Safeties spring football preview
Continue reading...
The next position group that we will examine in our spring breakdown series is safeties, which loses two key names but will be reloaded with young, yet experienced talent. Colby Wooden and Jerrin Thompson anchored the unit last season. However, Thompson has graduated after spending one season on the Plains, and Wooden elected to transfer to SEC rival Arkansas for the 2025 season. According to Pro Football Focus data, Thompson carried the load by participating in 718 snaps last season, where he graded out at 78.5 in tackling and 78.0 in coverage.
Not only will Auburn be without two key experienced players at this position, but they will have a new coach leading them. TJ Rushing was promoted to safeties coach during the offseason following the departure of veteran defensive backs coach Charles Kelly, who left the Plains to become the head coach for the Jax State Gamecocks. Rushing began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Arizona State in 2012, and has since made stops at Northern Arizona, Stanford, Memphis, Florida State, and Texas A&M.
Rushing will have the luxury of coaching several talented players such as Kaleb Harris, Sylvester Smith, Anquon Fegans, Eric Winters, and Taye Seymore this season, who are more experienced than their class level would suggest.
Here is a look at what the Auburn quarterback room looks like as spring practice continues on the Plains.
No. 5 Terrance Love
- 2024 stats:10 games, 1 tackle
- Career stats:21 games, 7 tackles, 1 pass break-up
The junior from Atlanta will look to get more play time this season as he enters his third season on the Plains. He participated in 34 snaps last season, where zero covered receivers caught a pass under his watch.
No. 8 Kaleb Harris
- 2024 stats:12 games, 46 tackles, 3 pass breakups, 1 TFL, 1 forced fumble
- Career stats:Same
Harris may be a true sophomore, but do not let his class level fool you. He is the most experienced returning safety on Auburn's roster and will look to be the premier defensive back this season. Harris graded above 80.0 in both run defense and tackling last season, according to PFF data, and logged 608 snaps as a true freshman.
No. 19 Sylvester Smith
- 2024 stats:12 games, 28 tackles, 2 pass breakups, 1 interception, 3 pass deflections
- Career stats:16 games played, 31 tackles, 5 pass breakups, 1 interception
Smith kicked his career into high gear in 2024. After playing in four games as a true freshman in 2023, Smith participated in all 12 games last season with six starts. He logged 438 snaps, the third-highest count on the team behind Jerrin Thompson and Kaleb Harris, and receivers caught passes 68% of the time when covered by Smith.
No. 21 Anquon Fegans
- 2025 recruiting ranking (247Sports):4-star safety, No. 9 safety, No. 4 Alabama
Fegans was the No. 4 signee from Auburn's 2025 class and is looking to form a solid alliance with former Thompson teammate Kaleb Harris at the safety position this season.
No. 25 Eric Winters
- 2025 recruiting ranking (247Sports): 4-star safety, No. 11 safety, No. 9 Alabama
Winters joins Fegans as a strong member of Auburn's 2025 signing class. Expect Winters to play a major role is pass coverage this season.
No. 26 Amon Lane-Ganus
- 2024 stats:4 games played, 0 tackles
- Career stats:Same
Lane-Ganus moves from cornerback to safety this season after playing in four games as a true freshman. He played in a season-high nine snaps in Auburn's win over Alabama A&M to open the season.
No. 29 Taye Seymore
- 2024 stats (Georgia Tech):10 games, 46 tackles, 3 TFL, 2 Pass breakups
- Career stats:20 games, 51 tackles, 3 TFL, 2 Pass breakups
Seymore transfers to Auburn after a breakout sophomore campaign at Georgia Tech. Last season, he started seven games and totaled 401 snaps at safety. He graded higher than 76.0 in two games last season against VMI and Duke. Opposing receivers caught 11 of 15 passes when covered by Seymore.
No. 29 CJ Johnson
- 2024 stats: 0 games, 0 tackles
- Career stats: 1 game, 0 tackles
Johnson enters his sophomore season looking to break into the safety rotation. He signed with Auburn as part of Hugh Freeze's first class in 2023 as a three-star safety and the No. 143 overall recruit from Texas.
No. 30 Jahquez Robinson
- 2024 stats:7 games, 1 tackle, 1 pass breakup
- Career stats:23 games, 12 tackles, 1.5 TFL, 1 pass breakup, 1 interception
Robinson saw action in seven games in his first season at Auburn after transferring in from Colorado. He played a season-high 23 snaps in Auburn's season-opening win over Alabama A&M, with his highest-graded outing coming against ULM, where he finished the game with a 71.6 and a 77.2 coverage grade.
No. 32 Cade Carlson
- 2024 stats:3 games, 0 tackles
- Career stats:Same
Carlson joined the team last season as a walk-on, where he saw action in three games.
No. 36 Antwon Fegans Jr.
- 2024 stats: 2 games, 0 tackles
- Career stats: 12 games played, 8 tackles, 1 TFL
Fegans transferred to Auburn last season after spending the previous two seasons at Northwestern State. He also played two seasons at Arkansas State, where he signed to play.
No. 48 Paul Thompson Jr.
- 2024 stats:12 games, 0 tackles
- Career stats:16 games, 1 tackle
Thompson, a former Hoover Buccaneer, is a key special teams player that saw action in every game last season.
No. 49 Elias Williams
- 2024 stats: 0 games, 0 tackles
- Career stats:10 games played, 27 tackles, 1 sack, 4 pass breakups
Williams did not see any action as a sophomore at Auburn, but was a quality player at City College of San Francisco in 2023, where he logged 27 tackles in 10 games.
Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Taylor on Twitter @TaylorJones__
This article originally appeared on Auburn Wire: Auburn football Safeties spring football preview
Continue reading...
